Holiday Shopping Slip & Fall Accidents: Who's Liable?

Holiday Shopping Slip & Fall Accidents: Who's Liable?

Posted By
Samster Konkel & Safran, S.C.

As December presses on, holiday shoppers flood retail stores in search
of the perfect gift for their friends or family members. Even with the
influx of holiday shoppers, retailers are still obligated to provide safe
shopping environments for their customers. This means the sales floor,
dressing rooms, and bathrooms should be free from hazards such as torn
carpets, poor lighting, and spills.

If you were injured in a
slip and fall accident in a retail store or mall, can you hold the retailer responsible for your
injury? Yes, it is possible to hold the retailer responsible for your
injury, but to do so; you must prove the store owner should have been
aware of the condition that caused you to fall. If the owner was aware
of the condition and failed to address the fixes needed, they could be
held liable for your injuries.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents in retail spaces:

Food and spilled drinks: holiday shoppers on the go often grab some coffee for a quick energy
boost or even a quick snack only to accidentally drop these food items
as they’re trying to juggle carrying their drink with their shopping.
Retailers have a responsibility to monitor the sales floor regularly and
address any spilled food items.

Overstock boxes: Stock can seem like it’s flying off the shelves during the holidays.
To provide customers with the items they want, retailers often stock during
business hours. Empty boxes all over the floor can be a tripping hazard.

Snow, rain, and mud: During winter months, customers often come into stores and bring snow,
mud and water from rain into the store. It is a retailer’s responsibility
to have mats at the front of the store to allow customers to dry their
shoes off before continuing in. Additionally, including signage that cautions
consumers about wet floors is also one way retailers can maintain safe
environments for their shoppers.

At Samster Konkel & Safran, S.C., we understand how frustrating it
can feel to suffer an injury while shopping during the holidays. Proving
liability in your
personal injury case can be difficult, especially if you are going up against a popular retail
establishment who likely employs skilled attorneys. For this reason, we
urge you to retain an experienced Milwaukee personal injury lawyer to
represent you.